Spin the Dawn(19)

Longhai laughed. “You have five hundred jens now! Besides, you don’t need it, not when you can embroider like that.”

His praise sent a sharp pang of guilt to my conscience.

“But be mindful of what you say,” he went on. “The five sent home today were those speaking ill of Lady Sarnai last night. I doubt it’s a coincidence.”

“I appreciate the warning.”

So, Lady Sarnai had eyes and ears in the hall.

My stomach rumbled, and after Longhai returned to his station, I reached for the porridge sitting on my desk. It was cold by now and had attracted a following of flies, but I ate it anyway.

One of the kitchen maids passed through the hall to pick up our bowls and teacups. She was slightly plump around the waist, with a youthful face and friendly eyes as round as the two loops her black braids made behind her head.

She stacked my teacup atop a tower of cups on her tray. “We placed bets on everyone. I bet on you.”

“Me?” I looked up from my sketchbook. “Why?”

“Because you’re young, and…and…you looked like you’d be talented.” She blushed, and my brows furrowed with confusion. Before I could ask what she meant, she added, “I wasn’t wrong. Your shawl was magnificent.”

“Thank you,” I said, more bitterly than I intended. “I doubt I’ll be so lucky next time.”

“Lady Sarnai’s tastes change like the wind,” the maid said, “or so her servants say.” She leaned close to me, whispering, “But I still think you’ll win.”

I blinked, warmed by her earnestness. It had been a long time since I’d had a friend my own age. “That’s very kind of you.”

“My name’s Ammi. I sew a little myself, but my embroidery has always been clumsy.” She touched my shoulder bashfully. “I’d love to show you sometime—maybe you can help me improve.”

“Um.” Her closeness made me nervous. As tactfully as I could, I inched away from her. “I’d love to, but I’m going to be busy with the trial.”

She smiled. “If you get hungry, come visit the kitchens. The Lord Enchanter himself comes sometimes. He’s always poking about for herbs and spices. Usually the expensive ones.”

I tilted my head, curious. “To make potions?”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “To mask the smell of incense. His quarters are near the palace’s main temple. He says it reeks of ash and smoke.”

I raised a brow. “How interesting. Well, I have no desire to meet the Lord Enchanter.”

“You’ve met him already,” Ammi said. “He accompanies Lady Sarnai everywhere.”

I froze. The tall, thin man was the Lord Enchanter? He’d looked so young. It was hard to imagine he was a hundred years old—maybe even older, according to rumors.

“He’d tell the most unbelievable stories and flirt with all the maids. But since Lady Sarnai’s arrived, he hasn’t come into the kitchen as often.”

I frowned. “Does he really work magic?”

“Yes,” she said. “He can make a grain of rice turn into a pot of porridge, and a bone become a roasted chicken.” Her dark eyes shone. “Or even make a sapling grow into a tree.”

“You’ve seen this?”

“No, but I’ve heard. The Lord Enchanter was away for years during the war, and he doesn’t make a show of his magic as much anymore.”

“Why not?”

She lowered her voice. “The shansen’s daughter thinks magic is of the demons.”

I felt a stab of fear. Now I certainly couldn’t use my scissors: I couldn’t risk being discovered and offending Lady Sarnai.

“What do you think of magic?” Ammi said, leaning close to me again. She really was taking her time stacking my dishes.

Something clicked in my mind, and I recognized the strange way Ammi was acting. She was flirting with me!

My hand went to my collar, which felt suddenly tight. “I…I t-try not to think m-much of it.”

“You’re turning quite red, Master Tamarin,” Ammi said with a giggle. Finally she lifted her tray and turned to go. “If you need anything, be sure to look for me in the kitchens.”

After Ammi left, Longhai and Norbu appeared at my station. “Seems you’ve attracted an admirer. She’s a forward one. Well, I suppose they have to be.”

“What do you mean?”

Longhai shook his flask and made a face. It was empty. “Life in the kitchen isn’t easy,” he replied with a sigh. “Being the wife of a tailor would be a far better life than working in the kitchens.”

“You’re young,” added Norbu. “You should enjoy yourself.”

I looked at him bleakly. “I’m here to sew, not find a…a wife.”

“Then make friends,” Longhai encouraged. “You won’t find many master tailors your age. You should meet more of the palace staff. The servants are younger, and I’m sure the guards would enjoy hearing your war stories.”

I gritted my teeth. I didn’t have any war stories. “Thank you for the advice, Master Longhai, but I prefer my own company right now.”

“A pity,” Longhai said. “We have the rest of the afternoon off, and Norbu’s invited us all for lunch in Niyan.”